A few months back, we featured volunteers doing numerous things around our campus, and we featured playgroups. We figured we’d highlight another wonderful aspect of volunteering with our feline friends; TABBY! TABBY is To Achieve Best Behavior Yet, and focuses on cats finding balance. TABBY is mostly for cats waiting to be deemed available. These are the cat that are shy/fearful, desparate for attention or are high energy. Finding them a balance can reduce stress, and help them move to the adoption floor faster. Today, I met with TABBY volunteer Elizabeth to give me some insight into our cat behavior program.

Elizabeth is pictured above, and after each session, TABBY volunteers do a recap about how long it was, what transpired, etc. It helps present information to other TABBY volunteers, and the Feline Care Manager Bonnie as to who has been worked with or who has made any progress. As stated above, TABBY is mostly for cats waiting to be deemed available, meaning they are not quite adoption ready yet, but definitely can be! They just need that one-on-one time to really improve and gain socialization skills. Volunteers like Elizabeth work weekly with select kitties who need that extra attention, and we greatly appreciate it!

Briefly, we want to show you our current TABBY board. This board is able to help Bonnie communicate to volunteers on what cat needs what. Sometimes the cats only need talking to, and sometimes they need playtime and socialization. Each cat gets unlimited time to improve because everyone improves differently. We also participate in clicker and target training, to help mentally stimulate the cats. Really, each cat is a case by case basis, but this board is updated whenever anyone hits a certain stride.

We decided to work with Breanna first, and boy was she interesting. She hissed, growled, and did a little bit of everything besides interact with us. We quickly realized we needed to play with a barrier between us, and then we saw glimpses of the real Breanna. She is deemed high arousal, so stressful situations like shelter environment can be really hard on her. She did enjoy her cat dancer after a few minutes!

Pictured above is Layla, who is also labeled play with a barrier. She apparently lunges, but we didn’t see that behavior today. She enjoyed us talking to her and playing with her cat dancer, so she is well on her way to graduating! Bonnie determines when a cat will graduate TABBY, and at that point they usually go to the adoption floor. This is where you can see the progress they made, and how well they do in the shelter now. We’ve taken a few photos of some of our TABBY graduates, and would love to show you them so they can brag about how well they’ve done!

Dave is the black cat in the back, and this is his new best friend Vivi. Dave used to hide and cower, but now has blossomed with another cat. He greets people at the door now!

This is Titan Athena, and she was a tough case at first. She was more feral than all of our barn cats when she first was brought to Wayside. Now you can go visit her and as long as she solicits attention first, she will love to sit and chat with you! We’ll also provide a picture of her warning sign, and a video of her being sweet and lovable!

We like to highlight departments in our shelter, as there are so many people that are working “behind the scenes” to make Wayside Waifs what it is today. Previously, we showcased our Behavior Team, and this time, we would like to showcase our Adoptions Team. They are the team that ensures our animals not only get adopted, but they screen adopters and provide tips to make sure the animal thrives in their home! Thank you for all that you guys do!

This is Cindy, and she has a two-part job description here at Wayside. She works reception primarily, and a few days in adoption. Our Customer Experience Manager Whitney is in charge of both Adoptions and Reception, so we figure we would feature both! Cindy provides a wonderful work ethic to both aspects of the shelter, and she is always ready to put our visitors/customers first. Reception is the first thing visitors see when coming to Wayside, and if they have any questions, they ask Cindy first! When asked, she mentioned she loves the full circle aspect of working the front desk. “When people first come in to adopt, they are so excited. Then when they opt for the adopter photo, they sit in front of me with their new pet. That’s so exciting for me, because it’s such a good feeling.” Thanks for all that you do Cindy!

Once you pass Reception, you see this open area full of desks. That is where our Adoption Center is, and where our Adoption Counselors are! Pictured above is Lizzie, one of our counselors. She was assisting an adopter, but this is where they complete all the paperwork to adopt. Our counselors, with the help of volunteers, greet customers, set up meet and greets, finalize any details, and take adopter photos. These people are the backbone of the organization, just because we are mainly an adoption campus. While it can get pretty busy, this team always get their job done with a smile on their face, and the customers notice! We asked Lizzie what her favorite part was, and she said it was the meet and greet aspect. “I love introducing our Wayside animals to potential adopters, because it’s like playing matchmaker.” Thanks Lizzie, you rock!

This is Sam, and she is one of our newest Adoption Counselors. Another really cool part of our campus is our retail store, Whiskers and Wags, just past adoptions. We have a Retail Store Coordinator Pam, but when she’s not in, our counselors will assist customers. We sell anything from collars, leashes, toys, and more! Please feel free to watch our video here. What is really nice about our store is the fact that the money goes right back to homeless pets. It has competitive pricing against any pet store in the area! Sam enjoys working with her team as well, but really enjoys the hands-on part of her job, such as dog introductions, meet and greets, and helping pets find their forever home. We thank you for your service Sam!

Pictured above is Candy, a Volunteer Adoptions Counselor. We only say volunteer because Candy has dedicated years of her time to help our adoptions team. She’s technically not an employee, but she may as well be, because she is here all the time. Here she is going over a list of dogs with our Canine Behavior Manager Jess, while getting added commentary from Monk the dog. Candy has been through many adoptions teams while being at Wayside, but she mentions this one being her favorite. “This team is ready to help each other out with no questions asked-they truly make it wonderful to be here everyday.” We love you Candy!

We caught another Adoption Counselor Tara reorganizing our feature board. It used to be a Waif Watcher board, where staff and volunteers could pick a Waif and tell everyone about them. We want to feature more animals though, so they reconstructed the board to be more inclusive. Tara has quickly become one of our veteran counselors, and she also fosters some of our shy and fearful dogs when she can. She loves working with adopters and her team to make sure an animal goes to a wonderful forever home. Thanks Tara!

Not pictured is Whitney, Pam, Megan, Daniel, and Lori, who are still equally appreciated and valued! Feel free to visit our adoptions team during our adoption hours!

We thought it would be a good idea just to share some of our upcoming events with our regular readers, and potential new readers! Wayside Waifs regularly hosts and participates in fundraising events with local celebrities, businesses, and other foundations to raise awareness for homeless pets. If you can make it out to any of these dates, please stop by our table and say hello!

3/24/18 Paws For A Cause Walk

16200 Antioch Road

Join Blue Valley West for the 2nd annual Paws for a Cause Walk on Saturday, March 24. Bring your dog and walk a 1.5-mile route! This event supports Wayside Waifs. All ages are welcomed; you are not required to bring a dog but they are more than welcomed. Registration is $12 per walker. Sign up before March 1 to be guaranteed a t-shirt. For questions about this event please reach out to Josh Miller at jdmillerkc@gmail.com.

This event does not require an RSVP. Registered users can request event reminders.Register

3/30/18 Hambingo for Wayside

Hamburger Mary’s

Join us on Friday, March 30 for a fun night of Hamburger Mary’s Charity Drag Queen Bingo! This is not your typical BINGO with wild and raunchy humor from the Drag Queen host. Don’t miss out on the howlin’ good time!

$10 gets you 10 rounds of bingo all for a great cause! Prizes are available for winners from each round as well as a chance at 50/50 raffle. Space fills up quickly so please call today to reserve a table at 816-842-1919.

This event does not require an RSVP. Registered users can request event reminders.Register

4/4/18 Chicken N Pickle-Wayside Wednesday

Chicken N Pickle

Join Chicken N Pickle on the first Wednesday of the month for Wayside Wednesday from 4-7pm! 10% of food and beverage sales come back to Wayside! AND 20% of Chicken N Pickle dog merchandise also comes back to Wayside! Adoptable waifs will be on-site from 5-7pm.

This event does not require an RSVP. Registered users can request event reminders.Register

5/5/18 Cinco de Meow – Wayside’s Annual Fur Ball Gala

Overland Park Convention Center

Save the date for the 2018 Fur Ball Gala on Saturday, May 5 at the Overland Bark Convention Center! This year’s theme is “Cinco de Meow!” Join us as we cha-cha our way down a colorful street fair hopping to and from 18 open bars, lively auctions then rhumba our way to a Mexican feast. Top off the evening by dancing the night away! 100% of the proceeds from this event support the life-saving programs and services for animals in need at Wayside Waifs.

A few months back, we featured volunteers doing numerous things around our campus, and we featured Candy Brown who is a volunteer adoptions counselor. We figured we’d highlight another wonderful aspect of volunteering with our canine friends; playgroups! Playgroups are a wonderful way for our dogs to get some exercise, have fun, make new friends, and enjoy a break from shelter life! While the videos and picture provided will only feature dogs, we’ll tell you a little bit about the volunteers who regularly run these fun play sessions.

As pictured above, playgroups can teach us a lot about how dogs behave around other dogs. We do testing to see how they get along when canines are first brought in, but playgroups can provide some more detailed information. Do they like other dogs? Do they LOVE other dogs? Do they perk up at the idea of having a playmate? Another aspect of learning during these sessions is we can see a play style. Does the dog play gentle or rough? Do they take corrections well? Dogs playing may look a little aggressive, but you can quickly tell the difference between rough play and aggressive play. Check out the link below:

While you see a lot of teeth and jumping up, notice the body language. Tails are up, eyes are relaxed, body is relaxed. They take a few seconds of breathing breaks, which is a good sign they are having fun! Even tongues can show that it is nothing to worry about, such as if they are hanging off to the side of their mouths. They are having a howling good time! (Excuse the pun.) We do most of our playgroups in our Agility Park, and we have some fun obstacles for dogs if they want to try those out. Check out the movie below:

You see one of the dogs jump over a pole! Notice how halfway through the video, they are touching, but they take a few seconds of still positions. They are taking a break, while seeing who is going to make the first move to play again. It is really fascinating that they communicate solely through looks and body languages. We do playgroups all year-round, during all of the seasons. Dogs seem to enjoy the summer playgroups, because we set up pools for them; the ultimate cool-down!

Those dogs are really enjoying that pool! You might be wondering how we determine which dogs might benefit from playgroups. We keep a board in our dog area that keep track of every dog we’ve tried. We give them “yes,” “no,” or “re-try.” Some dogs don’t play well, and some do, and some might be having an off day, or just had surgery. Dogs are not allowed to play with recent stitches or certain illnesses or infections they may have, but liking other dogs is a must! Our volunteers bring whistles with them just in case a fight might break out, but those rarely happen! We sometimes have large playgroups with more than two dogs; and those can be a blast!

The way they all stop and go immediately is so funny! We have a good amount of volunteers and staff who run playgroups, but here are some volunteer testimonies of how much this benefits both the dogs and humans:

“The dogs can forget they are homeless and enjoy playing with their dog friends for a few minutes.”

“Love seeing pure dog joy.”

“Seeing dogs who are so fearful come to life when they have a chance to play with other dogs.”

” I love seeing the dogs enjoy spending time making new friends and just learning how to have fun ‘being a dog.'”

” It’s a fantastic energy release for the dogs. 20 minutes of playtime is amazing exercise.”

“I love the bond we made with fellow volunteers.”

It’s not just great for the dogs, but most of these volunteers have become friends through Wayside and their volunteer programs! We couldn’t do this without them, and we appreciate all the dedication they have towards our Waifs. Thanks for giving our dogs a break and allowing them to make new friends!

We like to highlight departments in our shelter, as there are so many people that are working “behind the scenes” to make Wayside Waifs what it is today. Previously, we showcased our Vet Clinic, and this time, we would like to showcase our Behavior Team. This small but important section of our organization is responsible for overseeing every dog’s temperament in the shelter. They test them, work with them, and are able to pinpoint certain behaviors to help match an animal with that perfect home.

This picture includes our entire behavior team. Jess is the Behavior Team Manager, and Ben and Brad are our Behavior Evaluators. Here they are meeting in our Admissions Department to go over an appointment. With dog surrenders, we do a behavior exam on intake before they are admitted into our facility. The dog should be able to eventually qualify for adoption, even if they need a little work now. The exams also help to pinpoint certain good and bad behaviors we can continue and change over time.

Brad is seeing if new dog Haley is treat motivated. Brad mentioned he enjoys working with all these dogs to work with different aspects of dog behavior. You see it all in a shelter, and you can see the wonderful turnaround they can make. During these exams, the team tests several different aspects, such as reactivity, motivations, restraint, and touch, to name a few. Haley is nervous as she is in a new place with new people for the first time, so our tests aren’t all that strict as they are more informative. We just want to get an idea of the dog’s personality, both in general and in a new situation.

Something we learned about Haley was that she is not so interested in treats as she is praise and toys. She enjoyed hanging out with all of us, and chasing after a tennis ball or two! You may be thinking that all the BE team does for a living is play with dogs, but that is far from the truth! Besides testing, they answer questions that have been submitted by the public, they oversee our Peace Academy(high-arousal) and Confidence College(shy and fearful) dogs, and they also teach classes that the public can attend!

Ben is having a cute moment with Haley after she got to know everyone. She will not be available yet, but she is well on her way! Ben is the veteran on this team, and is now teaching our classes and answering behavior questions. If you’re interested in either of those, please click here. Ben mentioned the benefits to meeting all of the adult dogs at Wayside. While some of them may not need any extra TLC, some do, and he enjoys seeing their progress to become “a normal dog.”

When asked, the manager of the team, Jess, mentioned her dual position. She is also our Canine Care Manager, so technically she is in charge of two different departments. “In my position, I’m able to communicate with my staff better. I can get our canine care techs involved in behavior, and vice versa. We all can learn about dog behavior that way, and there is never a dull moment!” We’d also like to mention that BE is looking for someone to join their team. If you’re interested, check this link out.

Here Ben is working with Brute, a Peace Academy dog, on ‘look’ and ‘sit.’ At Wayside Waifs, we believe in positive reinforcement training, and we also use whistles. Brute normally fixates on people’s hands, so learning ‘look’ was essential to his well-being. He can learn that he’ll still get a treat, and doesn’t have to necessarily fight for it. Brute has already made some wonderful improvements! He is actually from St. Croix, so he is an island dog at heart!

To sum it up, we wouldn’t be able to adopt out near as many animals as we do if it wasn’t for this behavior team. We can work with animals directly and get to the root of the problems, and we can get a vague idea of what they are like in a home. Thanks to Jess, Ben, and Brad! You make Wayside a better place! Keep up the good work!

“Hi there, I’m Watson! I’m a little confused about why I’m homeless, but I’m trying my best to figure it all out. I’ve been through so much this past month, yet I am the sweetest, most forgiving, gentlest soul on earth. And I’ve got lots of living to do, so I can’t wait to get started on my new life with you! I’m an adorable, 7 year old, 43 pound Retriever mix, with beautiful and soft red fur and a grey muzzle that makes me distinguished. My eyes might look sort of sad, but they are filled with love for you. I lived with one family my whole life until they decided they could no longer care for me. They surrendered me to the KC Pet Project who in turn transferred me to Wayside. It was such a confusing time and I felt so alone and afraid. I was trembling in my kennel the day I met Foster Mom. She happened to walk by me and when her eyes met mine, she stopped in her tracks and she knew what she had to do. Yep, she took me home with her and she made sure I knew that someone cared. That felt so good. I’m such a sweetheart! Foster Mom loves my quirks and she understands my insecurities. I’m mostly housebroken. I know to go when I’m outside and I do just fine with a dog door or if I get out on a frequent and regular schedule. But I can’t quite hold it for a full 9 hour day, so I hope you will be home with me more often or figure out a way to give me regular breaks throughout the day. I don’t use a crate and being confined to one makes me feel frantic. In fact, sometimes I feel anxious and worried when I’m alone and I’m afraid that you’re never coming home to me. Foster Mom has other dogs that I hang out with and they comfort me when no one is around, so I haven’t had any problems at her house and haven’t bothered a thing even when no one is home. Because the other dogs make me feel relaxed and content, I will need to go to a home that has another friendly dog. At night, I sleep in the bed or on a dog bed in the bedroom and I don’t make a peep. I’m smart, I love my treats, and I already know several commands that I can’t wait to show you, but I’ll be happy to learn more if you want to teach me! I’m affectionate and cuddly and I love to be by your side whenever possible, but not in a needy or clingy way. I’m just really an all-around delightful companion. I love to run and play or just hang out and contemplate life in the fenced backyard. I also love to go for walks. I’m perfect on my leash, never pulling, but I don’t go to the bathroom while I’m on leash. Sometimes car rides make me nervous because I’m not sure where we’re going, but once I realize we eventually end up at home, I can relax and have fun. In my past, I’ve lived with cats and kids and other dogs and I do just fine with all of them. I’m not overly playful with other dogs, but I like their company and I like to know they’re there. I need a home with a fenced in yard, since I won’t go to the bathroom on leash, and I need to go home with another dog. If you’d like, feel free to bring the whole family to meet me and we’ll see how we get along. Sometimes life feels confusing and you’re not sure where the journey is taking you. I don’t always understand why things happen the way they do, but I keep the faith that there is a reason. The reason I ended up here is so that I can find you and we can become family. I think you’ll like my sweet and gentle approach to life. I can’t wait to meet you!”

“Purrrleased to meet you! My name is Mackenzie and I’m a two-year-old gal with gorgeous brown fur. I came to Wayside when my last shelter ran out of space. While moving around can be scary, I know it won’t be long until I find a family of my very own. Around here they call me a Sidekick. That means I’m pretty brave and confident. I’ll also be your best pal! I’ll always be around to help you with the important tasks around the house. I’m also really friendly! I loooove to get ear scratches! If you stop petting me, I’ll actively seek out your hand for more! If you’re looking for a sweet best friend to go through life with, look no further! Come to Wayside and ask to meet me!”

“I’m Joely. I’m a 46-pound pointer mix here all the way from a shelter in rural Kansas. It was getting a little crowded there so I was fine with being transferred to Wayside where I can now focus on the task at hand–finding you! I’m still young, but I already know “sit” and “down.” I’m super motivated by food and especially toys, so I’ll pick up new skills quickly. How about if you and I take obedience classes together? That would be so fun! I live life with enthusiasm! I relish walks and embark on them with vigor but I’m also a good snuggler. I enjoy playing with other dogs, so bring your dog family members out to meet me. Please ask for me when you come out to Wayside. Can I please be your dog?”

Learn more about Joely here. She also has a video, which you can view here.

We like to highlight departments in our shelter, as there are so many people that are working “behind the scenes” to make Wayside Waifs what it is today. Previously, we showcased our Admissions Department, and this time, we would like to showcase our Vet Clinic. They are certainly the backbone of our organization, as they oversee the care of each individual animal. We wouldn’t have the reputation we have if it wasn’t for them! *Warning: You may see some pictures of animals in surgery, but we promise nothing is being shown other than the animal. Just a warning before anyone scrolls down and is faint-hearted.*

Ashley is one of our Veterinary Care Technicians. She is pictured organizing the surgery schedule and getting everyone’s vaccines ready, if needed. The day starts with surgery, and sometimes, we have up to thirty or forty animals being altered or getting dentals done a day. We can have up to five-hundred animals at one time, so it is important to get as many surgeries done as possible. When asked what her favorite thing about her job was, Ashley mentioned fostering animals. “I see them when they first come in, so I know if I’m able to help. With my job, I have the opportunity to help an animal thrive, and I can see them all day!” Thanks for your dedication Ashley!

Another significant part of a Veterinary Care Technician’s job is prepping the animals for surgery. This puppy has been giving anesthesia and our vets need to see where to do the incision. The vet techs will shave a spot so they can accurately alter the animal quickly, accurately, and safely. Here is Traci, our Veterinary Clinic Manager, prepping a puppy! Traci took on the role of manager last year, and says her favorite part is the organized chaos of it all. “I like organizing and running the clinic, as it can be hectic, but it helps when making sure every animal is watched over and cared for.” Thanks for helping the cause Traci!

After everyone is ready, the actual surgery takes place. This is Dr. Lutton, our newest veterinarian. The vet clinic graciously covered up the surgeries for pictures to be taken, but this is our surgery suite. We have four tables for dogs to be taken in and altered, or any other surgery needed. It allows the doctors a quiet and organized space to accurately perform these surgeries. When asked, Dr. Lutton mentioned the success stories. “I really enjoy seeing them find homes. I enjoy seeing an animal I have personally worked with go on to have a happy life.” Thanks for all that you do Dr. Lutton!

Next comes another important component for surgeries. Monitoring and making sure they wake up is essential, as with humans, because there is a risk with anesthesia. Our vet techs and vets will stay with our animals and help them wake up, and make sure nothing is wrong. Cassie is pictured with a puppy, and she is another Veterinary Care Technician. She mentioned she enjoys working with those tough cases the most. “Those animals that would otherwise be failure-to-thrive, I enjoy working with them because if it wasn’t for us, they probably wouldn’t make it. Seeing them go from the bottom to a healthy, happy animal, is so rewarding.” Thanks for all that you do Cassie!

After their morning surgeries, Animal Care Technicians take all of the animals and put them back in their designated kennel. Caitlin is pictured above carrying a puppy back, who is a little unsure of our camera! It is their responsibility to watch the animal recover, and take them out for potty breaks. They also clean both sides of the clinic everyday, to make sure everything is sanitary for our animals. When asked, Caitlin said she enjoys the uncertainty of her job. “It’s different everyday, so I never expect the same thing, and I meet a lot of our animals!” Thanks Caitlin!

Another aspect of their job is to administer medication to our sick animals. From upper respiratory infection to skin conditions, our vet clinic is responsible for administering and providing our animals with medication. Pictured above is Jess, another Veterinary Care Technician, preparing med cards and printing labels for the bottles. Likewise, she said her favorite thing about working here is seeing the profession of an animal. “I like seeing the medication work, even after a few days. Seeing them feeling bad one day, and then seeing them excited and happy a few days later shows that we really are making them feel better.” Big thanks to Jess!

But what would a vet clinic be without medical exams? These two fabulous ladies are Dr. Scott, our Vice President of Veterinary Services, and her cat Sydney (I hope I spelled that correctly!) She brought her cat in for a simple nail trim, but she and the other vets look over every animal that comes in our doors. Anything from drawing blood and giving vaccinations, to checking if they need any type of surgery and if they need a special diet. Dr. Scott is in charge of our vet clinic, and we appreciate her and her dedication to our Waifs! Thank you Dr. Scott!

Last, and certainly not least, is Dr. Spangler, pictured above. He performed an eye removal on Spinach earlier today, and he actually rescued him from the streets this morning! He is our other veterinarian, and makes the clinic a very fun place to work. When we asked what his favorite part of his job is, he mentioned his favorite task. “I like performing surgeries, but more than anything, I like using my medical abilities to help animals in need, and to help them find their homes.” Thanks for all that you do Dr. Spangler!

Not pictured is Sarah, another Veterinary Care Technician. She works certain days, but we appreciate her nonetheless! Our vet clinic is pretty fantastic, and we have saved many animals because of the people pictured above. Without them, we wouldn’t be the Wayside Waifs we are today.

Happy Holidays everyone! We like to highlight departments in our shelter, as there are so many people that are working “behind the scenes” to make Wayside Waifs what it is today. Previously, we showcased our Canine Care Technicians, and this time, we would like to showcase our Admissions Department. They do such a wonderful job in overseeing the care of our animals when they first come in, and work directly with the public, local animal controls, and shelters to get as many animals in a safe environment, and well on their way to a forever home.

Pictured above is the Admissions Manager Elizabeth, who has worked at Wayside Waifs for seven+ years. She oversees how the majority of our animals get brought to our campus. As some might know, we receive animals from places like Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and sometimes New York! We will do anything we can to help others out, and we also partner with local shelters like Great Plains SPCA, Kansas City Pet Project, and Spay and Neuter Kansas City. She manages the three person team, and is a good reason as to why we have so many resources involved in rescuing any animal we can!

Pictured above is the recent transfer of a few dogs from Kansas City Pet Project. When animals first get to Wayside, they get a brief physical examination, a behavior exam, updated or first vaccines depending on their history, a name if they need one, a microchip scan, and then a kennel or run. The transferred animals and owner surrenders will usually have names, but we will name stray animals ourselves. They get a few days to get assimilated to shelter life, and then staff and volunteers begin working with them, whether it be socialization or TLC.

Admissions’ first priority is to make sure the animal is safe, wherever it may end up. They strive to help people and animals alike, as much as Wayside can. Elizabeth mentions this as part of her favorite thing about working in this department. “People are extremely grateful that we can help. As a limited admissions facility, we are unable to accept every animal that comes through those doors, but we do as much as we can, to be a no-kill shelter. It is rewarding knowing I have made decisions to save many animals over the years, because every little bit helps.”

Pictured above is Ashley, who has worked at Wayside a little over six months. She has previous experience in other shelters, and truly enjoys working with animals! She is an Admissions Counselor, who works directly with Elizabeth and the public to save as many animals as we can. When asked what her favorite part of working in this department was, she knew the answer immediately. “I enjoy seeing the entire journey of the animal. When they come in malnourished or scared, and then one or two months late, I see them happy and healthy, and getting adopted. It is rewarding to be part of a compassionate team when we all have the same mission.”

Pictured in the cover photo, and above, is Brad, who is the newest Admissions Counselor/Behavior Team Member. He has been with us for a few months now, and his position is unique. He works with Elizabeth in picking animals to transfer in, and assist with said transfers. He also assists with the behavior team in assessing the dogs over six months of age that come through our facility. We do behavior tests to see a dog’s temperament, and see if they need any training or extra love while in our care. When asked, Brad mentions how his position is beneficial in Admissions as well. “I have the benefit of bringing animals in to start their journey, and then work with the dogs firsthand to continue their journey. I get to meet every dog, and see their personality shine after a week or a month. It makes my work in Admissions all the more rewarding, because I can bring animals in knowing what lengths we go to.”

Without our Admissions team, our shelter would not be like it is today. We are limited admissions because of our no-kill status, and we are proud to be that! We only take in what our building can hold, even if we want to accept more. It is not an easy job to tell people no, but Elizabeth, Ashley, and Brad are those decision-makers for us, and we could not appreciate them more! Thank you for all that you do!

We like to highlight departments in our shelter, as there are so many people that are working “behind the scenes” to make Wayside Waifs what it is today. Previously, we showcased our Feline Care Department, and this month, we would like to showcase our Pet Memorial Services and Facilities crew. They do such a wonderful job in maintaining our grounds, cemetery, and helping people in the process of grieving.

Our Pet Memorial Services area currently has one member-Tiffanie. She has recently become the only employee back there, and is doing a wonderful job! Thankfully, our Facilities department also helps her out. Those guys are Livio, Harold, and James. Together, they all make our shelter look amazing, and represent compassion at its finest.

The building pictured above is Pet Memorial Services, and it is located in the back of our campus. Inside, there is a viewing room, and several private rooms for owner appointments. Here at Wayside, we strive to make you as comfortable as you can during your time of troubles. We also have our urns and boxes out, so people can choose only the best for their pets.

There are, of course, certain sections of the Pet Memorial Services building that we do not want to show pictures of, only because of how private it can be. There are rooms where owner euthanasias happen, and in the back is where they get the cremations ready, of the owners choose that route. However, this facility is clean, and very organized. Tiffanie goes out of her way to maintain records and schedule appointments on her own, until she gets the help of another staff member. Tiffanie is pictured below.

Our Facilities department does a number of things for the shelter in general, but for Pet Memorial Services specifically, they keep the plots organized, get them ready for burials and ceremonies, and keep the grounds mowed and treated. They are also very helpful whenever Tiffanie needs any extra help with any number of things, so they are all well-rounded guys!

While our grounds are very big, this is one of many beautiful sections of our cemetery. There are some interesting facts about our cemetery as well!

We have one monkey buried here named April, back in 1972.

We also have two Bearded Dragons, and a couple of “Fire Dogs” that are memorialized by fire hydrants.

As early as 1946, over 12,000 animals have been placed here, whether they are owned animals, or communal.

Fenby Webster was the lead contributor who helped to found Wayside Waifs. She helped found the cemetery in 1946.

We named different parts of our cemetery. Top of the World is our oldest part of the cemetery, having dates as far back as 1946. Cedar Shadows is where most of our cremations are. Peaceful Meadows(see arch above) is where our body burials are. We also have a section called Companion Fields, which is for our communal burials and cremations.

We have a wonderful gazebo in the center of Peaceful Meadows, that is a great for a nice resting place for dog walkers, or if you are just gazing upon our beautiful grounds!

My own personal favorite is the gazebo, as it is a nice place to come and sit, and look at our beautiful campus. We have a business behind us, and Tiffanie says they often will walk around our cemetery during their lunch breaks, just to go on a nice walk. If you are curious about how you can help our Pet Memorial Services crew, consider making a donation in their name. The more money they have, the more upkeep and renovations they can do, and Tiffanie really wants to clean up or cemetery, and make it even better! I will end with some pictures of our cemetery, and current graves that are being kept in wonderful condition, and with regular visitors!